Fastening device for coal chutes



a chute of the length desired.

Patented June 12, 1923.

PATENT i oFFics ENOCH E. NEAL, OI MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

FASTENING nEvIcn on coAL OHUTES.

' Application filed; October 27, 1821. Serial 110510307."

"1 0 all to [tom it may concern 1 its object to provide a device through the.

medium of which the sections of a telescoping coal chute may be easily and quickly secured together in the event of more than one of said sections being required to complete Another object of the invention is to provide a device adaptable foruse upon the different types of coal chutes incommon use. The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the claims thereof.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 represents a plan view of a portion of two sections constituting a telescop: ing coal chute, said sections being securedtogether by a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section i partly in elevation taken on the line 2"2 of Fig. 1 and looking toward the right insaid figure.

Fig. 3 is a view similar toFig. 2 but illustrating a different construction of coal chute and illustrating the'manner in which the fastening device is applied thereto. 9

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In the drawings, referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, A and Brepresent the sections of a telescoping coal chute C, said sections being identical in construction and adapted to fit closely one within the other when completely telescoped in the usual well known manner. The sections A and B each comprise a runway constructed of sheet metal having a bottom 5 and side walls 6,

the said bottom being widest at an end a and gradually decreasing in width from said end toward the opposite end 5, while the side walls 6 are highest at the end a and also gradually decrease in height from the end a toward the end Z). The side walls 6 of each section are reinforced by angle irons 7 which extend the length of each section, and downward projecting flange 8 being riveted to the outer surface of each side Wall 6 adjacent to the upper edge thereof and air other flange 9 projects inwardly from said side. The opposite ends of they sections A and B are strengthened by reinforcing memberslO and 11- located at the ends a and b respectively. The reinforcing member 10 extends across the under side of the bottom 5 and has upwardly projecting arms 12 to which the sides 6 are secured. The upper ends of the arms 12 project inwardlyat 13 and-are secured to the inwardly projecting flanges 9 of the angle irons 7 and at one side of each section the projections 13 are extended a short distance beyond the' inner edge of the flange 9 and are then bent downwardly at 14 to form a stop for the purpose of holding one ofthe angle irons 7 of one section beneath the corresponding angle iron 7 of the other section when said sections are secured'together as illustrated in Figs. 1'

and 2. As the sections A and B are moved one upon theother to vary the overall length of the chute C the side walls- 6 "upon the upper side of Fig. 1 or at the left hand side of Fig. 2 are always held in the same relative position to each other. betweenthe side walls 6 at the bottom of Fig. 1 or at the right hand sidev of Fig. 2,

however, varies as the sectionB is moved within the section A, and as the angle irons 7; of said sections cannot co-operateto hold the last 'mentioned sides together after the sections have been moved one upon the other beyond a certam limit; some other means is required for performing this function. This means which also constitutes the novel feature of this invention, comprises a flexible member, preferably a chain 15 having a plurality of links to the lower of which a hook '16, of any desiredconstruction, is attached.

The hook 16 is constructed andarranged to engage a downwardly projecting flange 23 of the reinforcing member 10 as'illustrated in Fig. 2. At its other end the chain 15 has an elongated link 17 in which a member .18 is secured, the link passing through an opening 19 in said member. provided with oppositely disposedhook portions 20 and 21. the hook 20 being adapted to engage the flange 9 of the angle iron 7 while an edge 22 of saidmember 18 rests upon the flange 9 as illustrated in Fig. 2. The opening 19 is so positioned within the member 18 that when the hook portion 20 is positioned upon the flange 9 the chain 15 will hang beside the outer surface of the side The distance The member 18 is wall 6 of the chute section Bv and the hook 16 is then attached to the flange 23. Where the chute sections are constructed as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and are prevented from separating from one side thereof by the downwardly extending portion 14 of the projection 13 of the reinforcing member 10 only one fastening device is required. If, however, the chute sections are notconstructed with thebefore-mentioned projection 1 1 two fastening devices may be utilized, each being attached in a similar manner to opposite sidesof the chute sections.

The hook portion 21 is formed somewhat in Fig. 3, at which time the rear of the hook portion 20 will engage a link 27 of the chain 15 and thereby position the hook portion 21 to engage the rolled edge 26. The chain 15 hangs adjacent to the outer surface of the side walls 25 and the hook 16 is attached to a flange 28 of a reinforcing member 29 as previously described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. When chute sections are constructed as are the sections D and E two fastening devices are required to secure said sections together.-

The general operation of my improved fastening device is as follows :When it is found that one of the sections A or B is not long enough to deliver the coal to the point desired two or more of the sections are placed together as illustrated in Figs. 1.

and 2. The chute C is then placed in an inclined position andthe highest end thereof supported in any desirable manner. In this position the end Y) of the section B will contact with the bottom 6 of the section A and at one side the angle iron 7 of the section B is located beneath the angle iron 7 of the section A with the upper surface of the lower angle iron contacting with the under corner of the upper angle iron at the left hand extremity of the section A, Fig.

,tached.

having 6 and the hook 16 at the lower end of said chain is secured to the flange 23 of the reinforcing member 10. The chute sections A and B are now fastened securely together with the chute C ready for use. WVhere the construction of the chute sections differs and the hook portion 20 of the member 18 cannot be used, the hook portion 21 is utilized as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The device as illustrated and described is extremely simple, easy to operate and cannot be damaged by hard usage. in use it may be carried upon the coal truck 'orwithin the pocket of the workman.

It will be evident that it is not necessary to use similar chute sections in the formation of the completed coal chute, as the fastening device may be used equally well with odd sections no matter what their construction may be provided there are flanges I thereon to which the hooks may be at- I claim: I 1. A fastening device for coal chutes having, in combination, a flexible member, a hook attached thereto at one end thereof and a member attached tosaid flexible member at the other end thereof provided'with a plurality of oppositely disposed hook portions of different contours formed integral therewith.

2. A fastening device for coal chutes having, in combination, a flexible member, a hook attached, thereto at one end thereof and a member attached to said flexibleinemberat the other end thereof provided with a plurality of oppositely disposed hook portions formed integral therewith,one of said hook portions being adapted to contact with said flexible member and thereby position the other hook portion upon said flexible member. 7 4 p 3. A device of the character described 07 therein a plurality of links, a hook attached to a link at one end of said chain and a member attached to alink at the other end of said chain and embodying therein a pin-- rality of hook portions, one of said hook portions being adapted to swing into en'- gagement 'with a link of said chain and thereby position the other hook portion upon said chain.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ENOCH E. NEAL. Witnesses:

FRANKLIN E. Low, KATHRY M. JOYCE' WVhen not in combination, a chain embodying 

